Laser-assisted cataract surgery
When asked to list all the barriers they have to adopting
laser-assisted cataract surgery in their practices, the
average respondent listed 1.5 barriers. Financial barriers
were the most common followed by a lack of data showing benefits over conventional cataract surgery. The
financial barrier was much more significant for U.S.
versus non-U.S. physicians.
Today, 58% are not confident there is a current adequate
reimbursement solution to support laser-assisted cataract
surgery (LACS), however this number lowers to 44%
when asked their projections 5 years from now.
When asked to identify all the areas where they believe
there may be a significant clinical benefit in LACS versus
conventional cataract surgery, the average respondent
listed 2.0 benefits. Arcuate incisions and capsulorhexis
were listed as the most common areas of improvements.
These was a dramatic difference in the opinions of accurate incisions where U.S. surgeons saw almost twice as
much benefit to these versus their non-U.S. colleagues.
16% saw no areas where there would be a clinical benefit
with this technology.
Interestingly, 91% of respondents believe that they will be
performing LACS on some of their patients in 10 years,
however only 36% believe that they will be performing
LACS on the majority of their patients.
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